Freshman Kirsten Lightel named OAC Pitcher and Rookie of the Year in Softball
By Ashley Birchmeier
ADA — Freshman Kirsten Lightel earned top honors in the Ohio Athletic Conference as three Polar Bears earned All-Conference honors in voting done by the leagues 10 coaches.
Lightel was named Pitcher and Rookie of the Year, as well as first team All-Conference.
Freshman Jenna Hollar was named Second Team All-OAC and senior Taylor Manahan was named Honorable Mention All-OAC.
Lightel led the conference this year from the mound recording 17 wins, 120 strikeouts, and posted a team leading 1.55 ERA. The freshman also pitched an impressive 149 innings for the Polar Bears.
Hollar led both the conference and the team in stolen bases this season with 27, second most in a single season in ONU school history. The freshman also posted a team best 43 hits and a .384 batting average.
Manahan earns her first All-Conference accolade as the senior appeared and started all 38 games this season at first base for the Polar Bears. She has recorded a team-high 256 put outs and holds a .996 field percentage this season.
Ohio Northern concluded its season 24-14 as they fell to Heidelberg in the OAC Tournament championship.